Nanaimo Mountie pleads guilty to breach of trust following off-duty sexual encounter

It was a regular spot Hilland used to prepare police reports.

The woman, whom NanaimoNewsNOW is referring to as Ms. M, showed up and briefly spoke to Hilland before he left to attend a call for service.

A short time later, Ms. M had a “negative interaction with an unknown male who had propositioned her, which triggered traumatic memories from her past involvement in the sex trade,” according to McLean.

Later the same evening, Hilland returned to the school parking lot where he saw Ms. M sitting nearby.

After approaching her, she indicated she “was having a bad night”, saying someone had been rude to her and her cat was missing.

The two spoke for some time outside his vehicle before Ms. M began to initiate “flirtatious behaviour” with Hilland.

Around the same time, Hilland was made aware of a potentially dangerous call for service, and went to leave the parking lot to support other officers.

Crown said Ms. M then gave Hilland her phone number, address, and door code, inviting him to come over after his shift.

On the morning of July 3, 2024, following Hilland’s shift, he attended the apartment, called Ms. M and was invited into her bedroom, where she was undressed.

Crown said the pair then engaged in consensual sexual activity.

“After engaging in sexual activity, Mr. Hilland told Ms. M that he had to go and he would call her next week. He also asked her about her cat, and Ms. M indicated she had found her cat hiding in her apartment. Mr. Hilland did not call Ms. M the following week, however about one week later, Mr. Hilland was on duty and patrolling past the John Barsby High School [when he saw Ms. M].”

It was at this meeting Hilland said he wouldn’t be contacting Ms. M again, and admitted he had made a mistake.

An angered Ms. M left the scene and reported the sexual encounter to Nanaimo RCMP a week later.

She told officers at the detachment while the sexual act was consensual and Hilland was nice to her overall in the months previous, she was upset that the officer had a family.

Crown’s McLean said Ms. M’s status as a vulnerable individual should have been evident to Hilland.

“Ms. M’s previous history in the sex trade and her communication to Mr. Hilland that she was having a bad day and was distressed indicated that she was a vulnerable person.”

Contested sentencing: A suspended sentence followed by up to two years’ probation and a “substantial” community works order, as well as protection conditions for Ms. M., were requested by the Crown’s McLean.

He pointed to the vulnerable nature of the Indigenous victim.

“The breach in this case was for Mr. Hilland’s sexual gratification…while the contact was consensual, the nature of it was aggravating,” McLean told court.

He said the victim was severely impacted by what occurred but also is resilient, as she’s had largely positive interactions with the RCMP.

McLean said this is the type of offending which should require a criminal record.

“This offence, breach of trust, has the potential to shake the public confidence in core institutions, in this case police…that can impact the public confidence in the administration of justice.”

Defence counsel for Hilland lobbied for a conditional discharge, which would result in no criminal record should Hilland abide by court-imposed conditions for one year.

Attorney Brad Kielmann told the extended half-day hearing his client is married with two children.

Hilland’s first posting with the RCMP was in 2012 in Fort St. James, where Kielmann said Hilland gained a reputation as a hard-working, reliable officer at an understaffed detachment in a highly challenging community.

The officer then transferred to the Gabriola Island RCMP detachment in 2016, where he eventually assumed the role as the detachment’s commanding officer in 2018 for about six months after a colleague suffered a career-ending injury while on duty.

Following his tenure on Gabriola Island, Cst. Hilland made short move to Nanaimo RCMP in August 2019, Kielmann told the hearing.

“It was during this time in Nanaimo in hindsight, Mr. Hilland recognized that he was struggling with his mental health, but he chose to ignore those signs at the time, he was having difficulty sleeping and noticed mood changes.”

Kielmann produced several highly favourable character reference letters to the court, including multiple from past RCMP colleagues depicting a hard-working, well-respected officer and devoted father.

“He had a false belief that seeking professional help would undermine that reputation,” Kielmann said.

He told court his client has sought extensive and ongoing assistance from a psychologist and was diagnosed with PTSD and major depressive disorder.

Hilland has been off work since July 2024, while he was officially charged last May.

Court heard Hilland has applied for voluntary discharge from the RCMP, and his final day with the force is Friday, Aug. 14.

Emotional apology: Addressing the court on Thursday, Hilland said this one encounter has tarnished a 15-year career on the force, and the event was a mistake which goes against his character and the “person I strive to be.”

“I’m here to take responsibility and be accountable for my actions,” Hilland said while reading a pre-prepared statement.

Hilland said he immediately regretted his actions with Ms. M and understood how they were in conflict with the professional conduct expected from police officers.

“Police should be and are held to a higher standard than the general public, and I failed to maintain that standard of conduct,” Hilland said. “I deeply regret the harm I have caused by my actions, I did not think of the broad-reaching consequences at the time. I see now the emotional damage I have caused Ms. M, my family, friends, and colleagues, and I understand how my actions have contributed to a loss of public faith in the RCMP and police in general.”

Hilland delivered apologies to Ms. M, friends, family, RCMP colleagues, the court, and the general public for his actions, which he said “may have tainted the public view of police and consequently made [officers’] already difficult job even harder.”

In the time between the offence and Thursday’s court date, Hilland said he’s taken a number of steps to better his physical, emotional, and mental health, including working with a trainer and attending counselling.

Hilland’s supportive wife was in court for the proceedings.

Provincial court judge Reginald Harris will deliver his decision at a later date, emphasizing he wants to carefully consider all of the facts and relevant information available.

“It’s one thing to say this is the outcome, it’s another to provide a methodical, illuminated pathway so the public fully understands and appreciates the decision I’ve arrived at,” judge Harris said.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Nanaimo Mountie pleads guilty to breach of trust following off-duty sexual encounter

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